Serie A: Top 10 January Transfer Window Signings and Rumours in Italy
January is set to be a big month in Serie A as plenty of transfers are set to happen.
The Italian press has already begun to churn out the rumours about some of the hottest prospects in football changing clubs.
Serie A is the second-biggest net-spending league in Europe with £74.8 million, trailing the Premier League with £178.2 million and ahead of the Primera División with £53.4 million.
Inter Milan are in transition and seem to be intent on spending lavishly to fast-track the transition to a post-Mourinho era, while Juventus' superb start to the season is not enough to stop the Bianconeri from continuing their spending renaissance of sorts.
Genoa, with new manager Pasquale Marino, should be allowed some funds to reshape the Rossoblu after Alberto Malesani was relieved of his duties. With Denis Mangia also getting the chop, Maurizio needs to give new manager Bortolo Mutti some backing too.
Milan are always pursuing the globe's top talent, with Adriano Galliani continuing to conjure up a number of bargain deals.
The other factor in the league is the large prominence of African players who will shortly depart for the African Cup of Nations, which, given the high pressure managers are under in this league, could trigger a number of moves to cover for these players who will depart for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Here are 10 players who have either moved already or have been rumoured to be on the radar of Italian clubs in January.
Martín Cáceres: Sevilla to Juventus
1 of 10The Uruguayan defender should join initially on a loan deal, which will cost them €3 million, before the Bianconeri have the option of making the move permanent in the summer for a further €7 million.
The 24-year-old should be a bargain, given his versatility to play all along the back line. He would also give Antonio Conte some much needed cover outside of his trusted four of Stephen Lichsteiner, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, with Paolo De Ceglie the only other Bianconero to have started at the back in Serie A.
It is conceivable that he might even start immediately—with Barzagli the most likely to be his partner—while Conte searches for a better long-term option at left back than Chiellini, who will ultimately move inside in the near future.
Carlos Tevez: Manchester City to AC Milan
2 of 10Carlos Tevez's much-protracted move to AC Milan should be finalised in the coming days.
The Argentine will join—in all likelihood on an initial loan with a stipulation to make the move permanent for around £20 million in the summer—despite Manchester City's insistence that the deal will only go ahead if it is a permanent move. Milan's recent transfer record indicates City might have do drop their demand.
The Rossoneri would be setting up a dream striker partnership between Tevez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. This duo could potentially propel them to the next stage—the Champions League—under Massimiliano Allegri as of next season, due to his ineligibility for the rest of this season.
David Pizarro: Roma to Juventus
3 of 10David Pizarro looks set to join fellow countryman Arturo Vidal at Juventus.
The Giallorossi player could join the Bianconeri on loan for €500,000 and would add some more depth to the squad after Antonio Conte has begun to take to a three-man central midfield.
Pizarro has been highly successful during his career in Italy, but has been blighted in recent times with injuries. A move to Juve could be just what he needs to revitalise his career.
Emiliano Alfaro: Liverpool to Lazio
4 of 10Emiliano Alfaro has joined Lazio today from Uruguayan club Liverpool for approximately £3 million.
The Uruguayan international has a terrific record in Uruguay, but somewhat struggled in Argentina for San Lorenzo in between his two successful spells at Liverpool.
It was reported in Gazzetta this week that Udinese were keen on the 23-year-old, but the Biancocelesti have sealed the deal.
Eduardo Vargas: Universidad De Chile to Napoli
5 of 10Eduardo Vargas has joined Napoli for £9.5 million from newly-crowned Copa Sudamericana champions Universidad de Chile.
Vargas arrived yesterday in the peninsula and is keen to be a star for his new club. His debut could come in the Coppa Italia against Cesena.
Vargas was instrumental in Universidad's run in the Copa Sudamericana, scoring three goals in the two-leg final before a goal in the 1-0 victory of his domestic league playoff final against Cobreloa, his former club.
"El Genio Azul" is most comfortable in a wide forward position, and he is a terrific finisher who has chipped in with five goals in his last eight games.
The Chilean international has two goals in nine appearances for his country.
Alberto Gilardino: Fiorentina to Genoa
6 of 10The inspiration behind the Italian's move seems to be in order to revitalise his international career due to not appearing under Cesare Prandelli since last June.
The former Milan striker has now amassed transfer fees over £50 million with moves to Hellas Verona, Parma, Milan, Fiorentina and Genoa.
Gilardino is one of the most prolific strikers in Serie A history, scoring 142 goals and sitting 25th on the all-time list.
His partnership with Rodrigo Palacio should be explosive.
Juan Guilherme Nunes Jesus: Internacional to Inter Milan
7 of 10The Brazilian centre back has played just 20 times for his former club, Internacional, and represented Brazil U20 and was part of the side that won the FIFA U20 World Cup.
The 20-year-old should add some much-needed athleticism, as Lucio, Walter Samuel, Iván Córdoba and Christian Chivu's time with the Nerazzurri seems to be coming to an end.
Marco Borriello: Roma to Juventus
8 of 10As Juve continue to add strength in depth to their squad, the 29-year-old should be competing with Alessandro Matri for a place as the lone striker in Antonio Conte's preferred 4-3-3.
Having not scored in seven appearances since his permanent move to Roma from Milan in the summer for €10 million, Borriello will be desperate to kick-start his career again in order to help the Azzurri squad make a late charge for Euro 2012.
Gelson Fernandes: Saint-Etienne to Udinese on Loan
9 of 10The 25-year-old should act as superb cover for Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu and Kwadwo Asamoah, who are set for the African Cup of Nations.
Francesco Guidolin will hope he can hit the ground running as Udinese hope to maintain their super form that sees the Zebrette sitting third at the halfway stage.
The Switzerland international previously had a loan spell with Chievo, so he should adjust quickly to Serie A.
Lucas Moura: São Paulo to Inter Milan
10 of 10The Seleção star could cost Inter €30 million and would be the perfect signing to give Nerazzurri fans newfound optimism for a new era.
The 19-year-old has already appeared 10 times for Brazil.
Follow me on Twitter @jackalexandros and @FRcalcioJack.
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